Encounter of the Scarlet Lord

"Ye Shin, how did you manage to negotiate with the ghost emperor? When I caught you at the forest, I really did not expect that you could escape from the enchantments in the castle," Gui Wen admitted. There were countless thoughts coming through his head and only the lady could help him clear his confusion.

"I forced him," Ye Shin murmured vaguely. Her eyes looked around the huge building in front of her as if making an evaluation of the castle.

The man furrowed his brows with eyes widened in shock, he probed, "You---- forced... how?"

Even if the ghost emperor had lost his divine weapon, there was no way anyone could force him inside this castle! They have set strong enchantment array for the emperor's protection. He was certain that no one could breach the array, unless the emperor would remove it voluntarily.

"How? It's already in the past. There is no point in talking about what happened," Ye Shin stated, completely dismissing the subject of their conversation.

Gui Wen cleared his throat and secretly took a deep breath. "Then, Ye Shin, how about your two companions?"

He remembered the giant man and the beautiful woman who were traveling with Ye Shin during their first meeting. He could not help but wonder if the two became the meal of the ghost emperor and this lady was spared. If so, then, this lady must have bore an ill-intention and was plotting for revenge!

"My companions already left. Your ghost emperor had an agreement with me. There is no need to worry, I can ensure his safety against his enemies," Ye Shin replied.

"S-safety of the ghost emperor? Hah! Are you good at fighting? And you don't even have a weapon! Let me tell you, there are elder ghost cultivators who want the majesty to be dead. Can you protect him?," Gui Wen expressed. No matter how he examined Ye Shin, he could not see any weapon in her.

"Don't worry. I have a weapon. I wield a sword," Ye Shin casually told him.

"Oh? Where is this weapon? I don't see any sword in you! Can you show it to me?" Gui Wen requested full of skeptics about Ye Shin's response.

"Subordinate Gui Wen, my weapon is different. I hope not to use it," Ye Shin said in a meaningful tone. She came from a clan that used a different way to manifest their weapons. The clan members only need to cultivate their inner force to enhance their power.

Gui Wen raised his brows and stared at Ye Shin's face. For some reason, the longer his eyes look at her, the calmer he felt. 'Such a peaceful bearing! It's probably her eyes for there is a touch of golden brown on them. Or could it be that it's the white garments she was wearing?' he mentally asked himself.

"If it is fighting, I don't fight. The technique that I practiced is not suitable for fighting," Ye Shin added while the man was still staring at her.

Gui Wen's expression turned sullen. This lady... if she can't fight, then what would be her use to the ghost emperor?

He looked away and gazed at the entire front yard of the castle before asking again, "Then, how are you going to protect the majesty?"

"You don't need to question my capability. You will see it when the time comes," Ye Shin answered. She clasped her hand again and started walking towards the gates of the castle. "I will take my leave."

"Errrhh--- where are you going? You can't go out! This world is dangerous!" Gui Wen instinctively moved his feet and chase after her trails. But, he was also concerned that Ye Shin might escape.

"I am going to explore and investigate the situation of your ghost emperor. I will be back," Ye Shin asserted as she stepped out of the gate.

At one glace, she could already tell how different the infrastructures of the ghost realm compare to the other worlds that she visited before. The castle was surrounded by few large trees and Ye Shin presumed that those trees were centuries older than her.

"Ye Shin, you can't explore this place however you like. As you know, all of us here are practicing techniques of forbidden black magic. If you got caught by the other ghost practitioners, I'm afraid I could not save you," Gui Wen said while he continued to follow her.

The lady did not speak anymore and continued to walk. After some time, the two of them reach an empty alley with several closed establishments on the side.

The sky had almost turned dark but their figures in the alley looked eye-catching. One figure was wearing the brightest white garment while the other was wearing an item of purple clothing.

"There are no other ghost cultivators in this location?" Ye Shin suddenly asked after several minutes of walking the empty street.

"It's not that there is no civilians. Someone probably scared them. It's not safe here. Let's get back to the castle!" Gui Wen stated as he started to realize the strangeness of the place.

In his mind, there was only one reason for the ghost cultivators would hide or leave a certain location empty. And that there must be a stronger figure claiming the place.

Just then, a burst of eerie laughter reverberated around them. They have ventured farther away from the castle and reached this desolate alley. Gui Wen's assumption was right and his face turned pale.

"Hihihihi... What a fine visitor! It is a lady! Hihihi... Do you want to be my wife?"

Gui Wen was immediately tensed and felt a brush of cold air traveled down to his spine. He was very familiar with this malicious laughter!

It was the infamous bride stealing ghost known as the scarlet lord. This ghost cultivator used dark magic and dual cultivation to enhance his power. Hence, he wandered around the realm to snatch women and consumed them until they die.

Gui Wen panicked but on the other side, Ye Shin looked up and watched as the scarlet lord emerged in the air and was wearing a lush red mask on his face. His name must have been taken from this mask.

"The scarlet lord! AHH! Ye Shin, this is not good! Not good! Let's escape!" Gui Wen spoke and grabbed her arm, ready to bolt away. But, he only managed to hold the empty air. He turned his head to see that Ye Shin was still standing in the same position and was looking at the scarlet lord calmly.

"I have no interest of a man! Tsk! There is nowhere to escape for this lady. You are inside my enchantment," the masked man announced. And the empty alley suddenly transformed into a mansion that was adorned with bright red paint. They stood just outside of the mansion while the scarlet lord started walking closer to them.

"I am here to explore the ghost realm. I don't intend to disturb your dwellings and I don't want to be disturbed also," Ye Shin spoke politely, completely unfazed of the bloody mansion in front of her.

"Scarlet lord, this lady is a guest of our ghost emperor! I ask you not to act recklessly lest you anger the majesty!" Gui Wen stated in an attempt of giving the masked man a warning. But in fact, cold sweats started to form on his forehead.

"Your ghost emperor is now useless! Hmmph! I am looking for a wife. Since I see this lady today, then, I choose her to be my wife," the masked man stated while giving Ye Shin quick inspection. He narrowed his gaze and check the energy that flowed in Ye Shin's body.

However, he could not see any flow on her body. There was only the energy with a golden color but it was not circulating within her.